Hand-held automatic devices for driving headed fasteners



Oct. 18, 1960 2,956,282

HAND HELD AUTOMATIC DEVICES FOR DRIVING HEADED FASTENERS Filed May 3, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/612 for Dana [dB M I/um B hm I Oct. 18, 1960 5, McILViN 2,956,282

HAND-HELD AUTOMATIC DEVICES FOR DRIVING HEADED FASTENERS Filed May 3, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 [III/611 for DoncldB. M I [yin By h AH.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w 4% W w, 4 ww 2 3 M M c U M 4 IJIr D. B. M ILVIN HAND-HELD AUTOMATIC DEVICES FGR DRIVING HEADE ID FASTENERS Filed Kay 3. 1954 HAND-HELD AUTOMATIC DEVICES FOR DRIVING HEADED FASTENERS Donald B. Mcllvin, Danvers, Mass., assignor to United I Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 3, 1954, Ser. No. 427,022

22 Claims. (Cl. 1-18) The present invention relates to fastener handling and inserting devices and more particularly to such devices having a portable gun for automatically inserting headed fasteners remotely of a fixed supply of fasteners. While the present invention is disclosed as embodied in a pneumatically operated device for automatically inserting headed fasteners, certain of its novel aspects are not limited to automatic inserting devices nor to pneumatically operated devices.

Automatic devices for driving fasteners are broadly well known. Such devices include an inserting gun, usually pneumatically operated, a remote supply of fasteners and means for separating a single fastener and delivering it to the inserting gun in response to the operation of the gun. The supply of fasteners is generally contained in heterogeneous fashion in a fixed hopper. Means are provided for orienting these fasteners in an orderly supply and further means are then provided for separating a single fastener from this oriented supply and introducing it into a delivery tube leading to the inserting gun. Generally, a blast of air assists in carrying the separated fastener along a delivery tube leading to the gun. It is apparent that each of the above described steps must be highly perfected to insure reliable operation of the entire combination and to enable insertion of fasteners in rapid succession.

It has been found that pneumatically operated inserting devices of this type are the most efiicient and desirable. It is therefore desirable to have all other elements of the combination pneumatically operated in order to eliminate the expense involved in providing the necessary auxiliary equipment attendant with the provision of more than one energy source. Moreover, it is necessary that compressed air be utilized efiiciently in performing all the various functions described above. For example, the means for orienting the fasteners should be intermittently operated and yet must be able to pro- 'vide a sufficient supply of fasteners to enable rapid operation of the device. Furthermore, the air provided for carrying a separated fastener along the delivery tube should preferably be maintained at a minimum necessary to perform its function. This emphasizes a somewhat unobvious fact that even a small waste in the use of compressed air can render an otherwise practical device commercially unacceptable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved fastener handling means which are particularly adapted for use in combination with automatic fastener inserting devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in an automatic fastener inserting device improved means for providing a blast of air for carrying a separated fastener to remote portable inserting gun.

More particularly, and in accordance with the various features of the present invention, a hopper is provided for holding a relatively large number of headed fasteners. A lift slide reciprocates Within this hopper delivering fasteners to a slotted raceway. As the fasteners descend the raceway, the fastener body portions or shanks fall freely into the slot so that a supply of fasteners is maintained in the raceway suspended by their heads. At the bottom of the raceway are a presser foot and a reciprocating segment. During the operation of the device the presser foot grips one or more fasteners next above the bottommost fastener in the raceway, allowing the bottommost fastener to fall into a recess formed in the segment. As a feature of the invention the segment is formed of nonferrous material and a magnet is provided which insures that fasteners fall completely into this recess. The segment then moves from this fastener receiving position separating the bottommost fastener and carrying it into alinement with a delivery tube leading to an inserting gun.

The inserting gun is identical in all its features, with the exception of modification in its'work engaging nozzle, to the inserting gun disclosed and claimed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,820,966, granted January 28, 1958. This gun has a casing which is gripped by an operator and ayieldable nose piece which when displaced by engagement with a work piece automatically causes a driving piston and driver to drive a fastener which has temporarily been positioned in the nose piece. When the driver is in its driving position, a signal line connecting the inserting gun and a control valve adjacent the hopper is pressurized. Pressurization of the signal line shifts the control valve from a first to a second position.

The control valve controls a time delay valve and a primary piston. The primary piston controls the movement of the separating segment and the lift slide while the time delay valve controls the fiow of air to the delivery tube. When the control valve is in its first position, the separating segment is in a fastener delivering position, the lift slide is in its lowermost position, and the time delay valve controlling the flow of air to the delivery tube is closed, at which time a previously separated fastener is in the nose piece of the inserting gun preparatory to being driven. When the gun is pressed against a work piece and the signal line is pressurized the control valve assumes its second position. Air then flows to the primary piston causing the separating segment to move to a fastener receiving position as the presser foot retains all but the bottommost fastener in the raceway allowing it to drop into the recess in the carrier. At the same time the lift slide is raised to deliver fasteners to the raceway. A closed circuit hydraulic system is provided in which the movement of the primary piston is restricted by flow of oil through an orifice thereby raising the lift slide in a gentle manner to transfer a maximum number of fasteners to the raceway. Also in the second position the time delay valve is opened. However, no air flows through the delivery tube as in the second position of the control valve, that valve blocks such flow. The time delay valve is constructed in such fashion that it is opened by air flowing from the control valve but may be closed only by escape of air through a restricted orifice under the action of an internal spring. Therefore, this valve remains open for a predetermined time after the pressure for opening it has been released. When the gun is moved from a work piece the signal line is depressurized and the control valve returns to its first position. The primary piston allows the separating segment to move to a fastener delivering position and the'lift slide is lowered. The hydraulic arrangement is such that little or no resistance is offered to this return motion of the primary piston. Since the control valve in its first position allows the flow of air to the delivery tube as soon as theseparating carrier is in a fastener delivering position a short blast of air will be provided for blowing the fastener through the delivery tube to the inserting device preparatory to a further operation while the time delay valve remains open. f

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combination of parts will now be more particularly described with refer: ence to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the hopper and separating mechanism of the present invention with cer tain parts broken away 'and'others shown in section for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the inserting gun utilized in the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of nail releasing elements of the present invention; 7

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale; I

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the line V I- VI of Fig. 4 on a reduced scale;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII--VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid pressure control system for the present device and its relation to various operating elements;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an optional fluid pressure control system;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through an inserting gun having a compensating nose piece;

Fig. 11 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 10 and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 12 is a section 0n the line XII-XII in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view Similar to Fig. 12 but with the parts shown in a different working position;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 12 showing the relationship of the inserting gun driver to a flat headed fastener; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the driver in a different position.

. Referring first to Fig. 1 a hopper for holding a supply of nails or other headed fasteners is provided. This hopper is mounted on a base plate 22 which may be secured to any convenient support. Extending downwardly from the hopper 20 is a raceway 24. A lift slide 26 is reciprocated within the hopper 20 to deliver nails to the raceway 24. These nails slide down the raceway in proper orientation to a separating segment 28. The separating segment has a countersunk slot 30 (Fig. 4) into which the endmost nail drops when the slot is in alinement with the raceway. A presser foot 32 (Fig. 6) grips nails adjacent the bottommost nail to prevent the entry of more than one nail into the slot 30. This separated nail is then carried by the segment 28 to a point where the recess 30 is in register with a delivery tube 34 (Figs. 5 and 8). At this time a blast of air is provided to deliver the separated nail to an inserting gun 36 connected'to the other end of the delivery tube 34 which automatically inserts nails so delivered. The inserting gun 36 may be identical in all features to the inserting gun disclosed and claimed in my above-mentioned patent. This gun is provided with a casing 38 (Fig. 2) which may be gripped by an operator and a nose piece 40 which is displaced against the action of a compression spring 41 upon engagement with a Work piece to actuate the inserting device. The inserting gun has two lines 42, 44 extending from its upper end leading to a relatively fixed point (shown only in Figs. 8 and 9) adjacent the hopper and separating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. The line 42 is at all times connected to a source of pressurized air and the line 44 is connected to valve controls provided for actuating the motions of the lift slide 26 and separating segment 28 upon pressurization of said line during the operation of the inserting gun 36. Pressurization of the signal line 44 also actuates valve controls which provide a predetermined blast of air to blow a nail through the delivery tube 34 when the recess 30 of the separating segment 28 is in register with the delivery tube thereby delivering a single fastener to positioning means shown as a quill 46 within the nose piece 40 after each operation of the-inserting gun 36.

Three sides and the bottom of the hopper 20 are formed integrally with a cast frame member 48 (Figs. 1 and 7) which is secured to the base plate 22 by four screws 50 (only'two of which are shown). The frame 48 is provided with two webs 52 extending from the hopper 20. Secured to the frame 48 by screws 54 is a bracket 56 having a surface 58 which defines the front of the hopper 20. The lift slide 26is formed on a plate 60 which reciprocates within a groove defined by the surface 58 and a vertical track 62 within the frame 48. A downwardly extending V-shaped track 64 is formed on the upper surface of the lift slide 26 with a slot being provided toward its lower end in which the body portion of a nail may fall thus orienting nails with respect to, the head as they slide down the track 64 and when the lift slide 26 is in its upper position onto the raceway 24 in properly oriented condition. v

The lower end of the lift slide plate 60 is connected by two links 68 freely mounted on pins 70 and 72 to lifting levers 74, 76 which in turn are'securelyattached to a shaft 78 journaled in mounting blocks 80 which are secured to the base plate 22 by screws 82.

The raceway 24 comprises two spaced bars (Fig. 3) which at their upper ends are mounted by screws 84 to lugs 86 extending from the bracket 56. The lower end of the raceway is secured by screws 88 to a projection 90 extending from a web 92 which in turn is integral with I the bracket 56 (Figs. 1 and 4). The screws 88 also secure v countersunk slot 30 in alinement with the raceway, the

tail 97 is cammed upwardly by the upper surface of the segment (Figs. 4 and 6) whereby one or two nails in the raceway next above the bottommost nail are retained therein by a resilient pad 99 attached to the presser foot. It will be noted that the action of the presser foot 32 maintains the shanks of the retained nails normal to the plane of the raceway thereby preventing the possibility of more than one nail entering the slot 30.

The separating segment 28 is preferably formed of aluminum or other nonmagnetic material to facilitate the action of a magnet 103 opposite the slot 30. The magnet 103, which is secured to the segment 28 by a cap 101, assures that the shanks of nails completely enter the slot 30 thereby eliminating the possibility of a jam as the segment is moved from a fastener receiving gral with the bracket 56. The mating surfaces 106, 108

of the separating segment 28 and the projection respectively (Fig. 5) are'concentric with the shaft 102'. The lower portion of the separating segment 28 rests upon a supporting surface 110 formed on the web 104. A lug 112 extends laterally from the web 98 and has extending from its lower end a pin 114 which engages a second pin 116 projecting from a short lever 118 which is integral with the lever 76. A tension spring 120 acting between a pin 122 extending from the upper surface ofthe lug 112 and the bracket 56 urges the separating segment 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5.

Adjacent the upper end of the raceway 24 a clearing finger 124 (Fig. 1) is provided for returning to the hopper 20 any nails which are not properly oriented within the raceway 24. The finger 124 is mounted by screws 1% to one end of a bell crank 128 joumaled on a pin 130 extending between flanges 132 which are integral with the bracket 56. The other end of the bell crank 128 is pivotally connected by a pin 134 to a downwardly extending link 136 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 138secured to the shaft The inserting gun 36 includes a two diameter piston 140 (Fig. 2) the lower portion of which has the larger diameter, a driver 142 extending from the lower end of said piston and means including a plurality of passageways 144 for introducing'equal air pressure to both ends of the piston. Holes 146 formed in the casing 38 and the yieldably mounted nose piece 40 vent the air pressure on the lower end of the piston to atmosphere when the nose piece 40 is forced against the work piece. When the piston is in its lowermost position the signal line 44 is pressurized through a single passageway 148 communicating with the upper chamber of the gun. Normally the signal line 44 and passageway 148 are vented to atmosphere by way of a reduced portion of the piston 140 and a hole 173 formed in the casing 38. Pressurization of the signal line 44 actuates control mechanisms which are to be described presently. For further details of construction and operation of the gun 36 reference is made to my above-mentioned patent.

In Fig. 8 the valve control system for the pneumatic operation of the various elements of the present device is diagrammatically shown. As mentioned above, the air supply line 42 is connected directly to a source of pressurized air at all times. The signal line 44 extends to a remote control valve 150 and is arranged when pressurized so that the piston 151 of the control valve is displaced from a first to a second position against the action of a spring '153. The control valve 150 is likewise connected to a source of compressed air at all times. A line 154 extends from the control valve 150 and has its opposite end secured in a block 155 which is attached to the projection 90 of the bracket 56 (Fig. l). The line 154 thus communicates with the delivery tube 34 when the separating segment 28 is in a fastener delivering position with the slot 30 in register with the delivery tube 34. A time delay valve 152 is interposed in the line 154 to permit passage of only a short burst of air through the line 154 and the delivery tube 34, said burst of air being just sufiicient to deliver a separated fastener to the inserting gun 36. Another line 160 extends from the same port of the control valve 150 as the line 154 and communicates with one end of a piston 158 which is slidably mounted in a cylinder 164 which, at its right hand end (Fig. 1), is pivotally mounted on a shaft 166 extending between lugs 168 secured to the plate 22 by screws 170. A line 156 extends from a second port in the control valve 150 and communicates with the opposite end of the piston 158. Also communicating with the second port of the control valve 150 is a line 162 which is adapted to introduce air into the time delay valve 152. The time delay valve 152 includes a piston 157 which normally prevents flow of air through the line 154 and a one way check valve 194 through which air may be introduced to displace the piston 157 against the action of a spring 159. When there is no further air being introduced through the valve 194, the piston 157 remains displaced for a predetermined time as air is metered through a restricted orifice controlled by a screw 196. The amount of air for delivering a nail to the gun 36 may be maintained at a minimum by proper adjustment of the screw 196.

A rod 172 extends from the piston 158 and is pivotally connected by a pin 174 to a lever 176 which is fastened to the shaft 78. Thus with displacement of the piston 158 motion is imparted through rotation -of the various levers 176, 74, 76, 118 and 138 to the various operating elements-of the hopper and separating mechanism. The control valve and the time delay valve 152 serve no other function than to control the flow of air and for that reason are shown only diagrammatically in Fig. 8.- In practice they may be mounted in any convenient manner, preferably adjacent or on the base plate 22.

The operation of the control valve 150 and its associated mechanism will now be described. For the purpose of this description the various lines extending from the control valve 150 may be termed as follows: first line 156, second line 160, third line 154 and fourth line 162. The piston 151 of the control valve 150 is normally maintained in a first position by the spring 153 when the signal line 44 is depressurized. In this position the second line is pressurized and maintains the piston 158 in its right-hand position as seen in Fig. 8. In this position the lift slide 26 is in its downmost position and the separating segment 28 is in a fastener delivering position with the slot 30 in register with the delivery tube 34. Also in the first position of the piston 151 the portion of the third line 154 leading to the time delay valve 152 is pressurized. However, said time delay valve prevents flow of air to the delivery tube 34. When the signal line 44 becomes pressurized when the gun is fired, as explained above and in my above-identified patent, the piston 151 of the valve 150, which also may be called the master control valve, is displaced to the left against the spring 153, when viewed as in Fig. 8, whereupon the first line 156 and the fourth line 162, which are parallel, both connected to the same port in the valve 150, are simultaneously pressurized from the main air supply line 42 which is maintained constantly pressurized. Also simultaneously, the second line 160 and the upper portion of the third line 154 are vented to atmosphere through the valve 150. Pressurization of the first line 156 actuates the cylinder 164, which is also referred to as the operating means, by displacing the piston 158 to its left-hand position thereby rotating the shaft 78 and raising the lift slide 26 to its upper position where it delivers nails to the raceway 24. Rotation of the shaft 78 also causes the separating segment 28 to be shifted to a fastener receiving position wherein a single fastener drops into the countersunk slot 30.

At this time the clearing finger 124 rotates in a clockwise direction to return to the hopper 20 any nails which fail to fall into the raceway 24. Simultaneously, the pressurization of the fourth line 162 actuates the supply control valve 152 by displacing the piston 157 to the right against the spring 159 so that there is uninterrupted communication between the master control valve 150 and the delivery tube 34. Thus the supply control valve 152 is actuated in synchronism with the operating means 164 since the pistons -157 and 158 are moved simultaneously. As explained above, the actuation of the operating means 164 is to operate the separating segment etc., and the actuation of the supply control valve 152 is to open it so as to be ready to permit the passage of air through the line 154 when the same again becomes repressurized in a manner now to be explained.

When the inserting gun 36 is removed from a work piece, the spring 41 returns the nosepiece to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the signal line 44 is depressurized by being vented to atmosphere through the hole 173. The piston 151 of the control valve 150 then assumes its first position venting the first line 156 and the fourth line 162 to atmosphere. At this time, the control valve 150 pressurizes the second line 160 and the third line 154 by placing them in communication with the air supply line 42. Pressurization of the second line 160 causes the parts, with the exception of the time delay valve 152, to again assume the positions shown in Fig. 8

wherein the separating segment 28 is in a fastener delivering position. Due to the fact that-the piston" 157 is not immediatelyreturned .to'its original position since .air must pass through the restricted orifice controlled by the screw 196, a'short burst of air'will flow through the third line 154 thereby delivering a separated nail through the delivery tube 34 to the' inserting gun 36 where' it is held preparatory to the next inserting operation. 4

Also attached to the pin 174 (Figssl and 8)'is a piston rod 178 which'extends from a piston 180. A cylinder 182 in' which the piston 180rides'1-is pivotally-mounted on a shaft 184 extending between" the webs 52 of the frame 48. The piston '180 is included with a closed hydraulic circuit which restricts the rate of movement of the piston 158 from its right to left-hand positions thereby causing the'lift slide 26 to rise slowly so that fasteners are deposited upon the raceway 24 in agentle manner thus assuring a delivery of a maximum number of fasteners per cycle to the raceway. The hydraulic circuit is arranged so that little or no restriction is placed upon the opposite motion of the piston 158 so that the downward movement of the lift slide 26'is substantially faster than its upward movement. In this manner the rate of cyclic operation of the separating mechanism and inserting device is' greatly increased. To accomplish these ends the hydraulic circuit is provided with two lines 188 which communicate with respective ends of the piston 180 and a check valve 187, The check valve 187 has a one way valve therein which permits unrestricted flow of fluid as the piston 180 moves to the right under the action of the piston 158 to lower the lift slide 26 and bring the separating segment 28 into a-fastener delivering position. The check valve 187 also has a screw 192which adjustably controls flow of fluid through a restricted orifice whereby the return of flow of oil may be controlled as the piston 180 moves to the left as the 7 piston 158 is pressurized to raise the lift slide 26 and bring the separating segmentinto a fastener receiving position. r v 7 An optional valve control system is shown in' Fig. 9. In this arrangement the piston 158 is maintained in its right-hand position by a spring 218 and thus the lift slide 26 is in its lowermost position and the separting segment 28 is in a fastener delivering position. The right-hand end of the piston 158 communicates'directly with the signal line 44through' a line 220, the other end of the piston 158 being vented to atmosphere. A line 222 connects the upper end of the delivery tube 34 to a source of pressurized air when the separating segment 28 is in a fastener delivering position. Flow of air through the line 222 is controlled by two time delay 7 valves 224, 226 which are of the same general construction as the time delay valve 152 described above with the exception that the time delay valve 224 is normally open. A line 228 provides communication between the signal line 44 and-the valves 224 and 226.

In operation, the signal line 44 is pressurized when the inserting gun 36 is pressed against a work piece, pressurized air flowing through the passageway 148 when the piston 140 is in its lowest position. It will be noted that the signal line 44 remains pressurized so long as' the gun 36'r'em'ains in engagement with a 'work piece and'for a further period as the piston 140 travels upwardly and until the passageway 148 is vented to atmosphere through the hole 123. Pressurization of the signal line 44 causes thepiston 158 tomove to the left against the action of the above-describedhydraulic system whereby the lift slide' 26 is raised gently and the separating segment 28 moves to a fastener-receiving position. .Pressurization of the signal line 44 causes the valve 224 to close thereby preventing flow of air through the line 222 asthe valve 226 is opened. When the signal line 44 isdepressurized,

the piston 158,,returnsto. the positionshown in. Fig. 9

under the action of the spring 218 (the hydraulic system provides no restriction to this movement) thereby lower: ing the lift slide 26 and bringing the separating segment to a fastener delivering position. The 'valve 226 remains open fora substantial period as the air which caused its displacement ismetered through an orifice controlled by a screw 230. Likewise the valve 224remains closed for a predetermined time as air which caused its displacement is metered through'an orifice'controlled by a screw 232. The screw 232 is adjusted so that the valve 224 will open precisely at the time when the slot 30 is in register with thedelive'rytube 34. The screw 230 is adjusted so that the valv226-willre'main open only long enough to provide the minimum amount of air necessary-to blow a separated fastener along the delivery tube 34 to the in serting gun 36. A description'of'the fastener driving mechanism, employing the optional valve system of Fig. 9, through a complete cycle of operation appears hereinafter;

The nose piece 40 ofthe inserting gun 36 may be modi field to provide a compensating work-engaging member 198, best seen in Figs. 10 through 15. l The nose piece 40 isprovided with a cylindrical nozzle 200 attached to its lower end by a snap ring 202'. The work engaging memher 198 is shown as a cylindrical segment for reasons that will further appear. The lower end of the nozzle 200-is provided with a seat 203 formed on the same radius as the cylindrical section of the member 198, said member being held in engagement with said seat by two springs 204 which extend between pins206, 208 extendingfrorn the nozzle 200 and member 198 respectively. The member 198 is provided with flanges 210 which prevent sidewise displacement of the member with respect to the nozzle 200. The springs 204also act as centering springs to maintain the bottom work-engaging surface of the member 198 in a plane normal to the direction of movement of the driver 142. The member 198 is also provided with a slot or passageway 212 which permits the passage of the driver 142 to drive nails positioned in the quill 46.

It is to be noted that the center about which the cylindrical surface of the member 198 is formed is located a substantial distance below its bottom or Work-engaging surface. The lower end of the driver has a fixed relationship with any point on the nozzle or nose piece each time it is driven, its motion being limited by engagement of 'a shock absorbing pad 214 on the bottom of the piston .140 with a cap 216 threaded into the lower end of the casing 38; In normal operation the length of the driver is adjusted so that heads of fastenings are driven flush with the surface of a workpiece when they are driven in a plane normal to the surface of the work piece as is seen in Figs. 12 and 14. The compensating member 198 enables fasteners to be driven into work pieces on an angle as is seen in Figs. 13 and 15. Due to the fact that the center of the cylindrical segment is beneath the'sur-face of the work piece when the member 198 is in engagement therewith, the lower portion of the driver extends below the surface of the work piece and its upper surface is flush or substantially flush with the surface so that the heads of nails either round headed or flat are driven into the work piece in such a manner that their uppermost portions are either flush or substantially flush with the surface of the work piece regardless of the angle at which they are driven. 7 V p While the member 198 is hereby disclosed as a cylindrical segment, it is also possible to form it in substantially the same manner from a spherical segment. When formed from a spherical segment, the compensating member would provide a further advantage in being wholly universal. 7 That is, nails could be driven on any angle (within its intended limits) in any plane. ,Howeventhe cylindrical segment herein disclosed has been found to provide sufliof my divisional application Serial -No. 574,409; -filed March 28, 1956, now United States Letters Patent No. 2,851,689, granted September 16, 1958.

Description operation The inserting gun 36 is ready to drive a fastener when its parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The various elements of the fastener delivering mechanism are likewise ready to deliver a fastener to the gun when they occupy the positions shown in Fig. 8. With the parts thus positioned the air supply line 42 is pressurized and equal air pressure is communicated to both ends of the driving piston 140. The larger area on the lower end of the driving piston results in a greater force being applied to the lower end of the piston thereby maintaining the driver in an upper position in readiness to drive a fastener. A fastener is positioned in the nose piece 40 of the gun as a result of previous operation of the gun. With the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 8 the signal line 44 is depressurized, being .vented to atmosphere through the passageway 148, a reduced portion of the driving piston 140 and the hole 173. The spool 151 of the control valve 150 is in its right-hand position providing communication between the source 42 of compressed air and the lines 154 and 160, the lines 156 and 162 at this time being vented to atmosphere through the control valve 150. Free passage of air through the line 154 is prevented by the time delay'valve 152, while pressurization of the line 160 causes the piston 158 of the air motor 164 to be maintained in its right-hand position. The lift slide 26 which is controlled by the air motor 164 is in its lowermost position while the separating segment 28 which is also controlled by the air motor 164 is in its extreme clockwise position with the slot 30 in a fastener delivering position in register with the line 154 and the delivery tube 34. The presser foot 32 is lifted above the raceway 24 by the weight of its outwardly extending tail 97 allowing nails in the raceway to slide against the inner surface of the segment 28.

With the gun and the fastener delivery mechanism in its ready condition describe above, an operator may insert the fastener positioned in the nose piece 40 of the gun in the following manner. The gun is grasped by its casing 38 and the yieldable nose piece pressed against a work .piece thereby bringing the passageways 146 formed in the gun and the nose piece into communication so that the lower chamber of the gun 36 is vented to atmosphere. The pressure acting upon the upper end of the driving piston 140 then moves the driving piston downwardly with an explosive force to insert the fastener positioned in the nose piece. When the driving piston 140 is in its lowermost position, the top of the piston 140 comes to rest below the passageway 148 thus placing the passageway 148 under pressure from the upper chamber of the gun. In this manner the signal line 44 becomes pressurized. The air pressure in the signal line 44 displaces the spool 151 of the control valve 150 to its left-hand position. In this last mentioned position of the spool 151 the lines 154 and 160 are vented to atmosphere while the lines 156, 162 are pressurized by being placed in communication with the source of pressurized air. Pressurization of the line 162 displaces the spool 157 of the time delay valve 152 to its right-hand or open position. Pressurization of the line 156 in combination with the venting of the line 160 causes the piston 158 to be displaced to its left-hand position. In response to the leftward movement of the piston 158 the levers 74, 76 and 118 are rotated in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the levers 74, 76 raises the lift slide 26 delivering a supply of nails to the raceway 24. Rotation of the lever 118 causes the separating segment 28 to be moved in a counterclockwise direction to bring the slot 30 into a fastener receiving position in alinement with the end of the raceway. Durin the final movement of the segment 28 the presser foot 32 is brought into engagement with the next to the last fastener in the raceway 24 by engagement of the separating segment 28 with the tail 97 formed on said presser foot. Thus, the last nail in the raceway will fall into the countersunk slot 32. The leftward movement of the piston 158 is controlled by the hydraulic arrangement which includes the piston 180 with oil being metered through the orifice controlled by the screw 192 during this leftward movement. Control of this movement is effected primarily to enable the gentle transfer of nails from the lift slide 26 to the raceway 24. The operating condition of the present system will be maintained so long as the nose piece 48 of the inserting gun 36 is depressed against a work piece in the manner described above. When the inserting gun is removed from the work piece pressurized air is again introduced against the lower end of the driving piston through the passageway 144 and due to the larger diameter of the lower portion of the driving piston said driving piston is displaced upwardly to its ready position. The signal line 44 remains pressurized until the final upward movement of the driving piston is substantially completed at which time said signal line is vented to atmosphere through passageways 148 and 173 as described'above. The control valve 150 again assumes its ready position shown in Fig. 8 under the action of the spring 153. The lines156 and 162 are again vented to atmosphere while the lines 154, are pressurized. Pressurization of the line 160 causes the piston 158 to move to its right-hand'position and the elements controlled thereby, namely the lift slide 26 and the separating segment 28, also assume their ready positions as shown in Fig. 8. The time delay valve 152 does not close immediately upon depressurization of the line 162 as the air which has displaced it must be metered past the screw 196. Therefore, for a controlled period air will flow through the line 154 and through the delivery tube 34 after the separating segment 28 has been returned to its fastener delivering position under the action of the spring 120. Thus, the air flowing through the line 154 and the delivery tube 34 will carry the fastener transferred by the slot 30 to positioning means in the nose piece 40 preparatory to the next inserting operation.

The operation of the alternate construction shown in Fig; 9 is quite similar to what is described above; however, the single time delay valve 152 has been replaced by two time delay valves and the control valve 150 has been eliminated. In the ready position of the device shown in Fig. 9 the airsupply line 42 is pressurized and the driving piston 140 is in its upper position. The signal line 44 is depressurized. The lift slide 26 is in its downmost position while the segment 28 is in its clockwise position with the slot 30 in a fastener delivering position. The preceding is merely a brief resume of conditions which were more fully described above. The gun 36 is again operated depressing the nose piece 40 against a work piece causing the driving piston to move downwardly and insert a previously positioned fastener. When the driver piston is in its downmost position its signal line 44 becomes pressurized in the same manner as described above. The air pressure in the signal line 44 passes through the line 220 displacing the piston 158 to its left-hand position. The levers 74, 76 and 118 are thereby rotated in a clockwise direction to move the lift slide into alinement with the raceway 24 and the separating segment 28 into a fastener receiving position. The hydraulic unit again retards the leftward movement of the piston 158. Pressurization of of the signal line 44 also causes pressurization of the line 228 which in turn displaces the two time delay valves to their right-hand positions in which the valve 224 prevents flow of air through the line 222 While the valve 226 is open. After the inserting operation is completed the gun 36 is removed from the work piece and the driver piston again moves to its upper position thereby venting the signal line 44 and the lines 220 and 228 to atmosphere through the hole 173. The mechanism controlled by the piston 158 is returned to its ready position under the action of the spring 218. Air will now flow through the line 222-to deliver a fastener carried by the slot 30 in the separatingsegment 28 after the slot has been brought into register with the line 222 and the delivery tube 34 in the following manner. The time delay valve 224 opens almost immediately after the line 228 is depressurized, the time delay period being adjusted so as to be substantially equal to the time necessary for the operating segment 28 tomove from a fastener receiving position to a fastener delivering position. The time delay valve 226 remains open for a substantially greater period of time which is suflicient to allow enough air to pass along the line 222 to carry the fastener through the delivery tube 34 to the positioning means .in'the. nose piece 40 of the inserting gun 36. In this manner it is also possible to deliver fasteners in this type of device through the use of a minimum-amount of air.

Having thus described .my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fastener handling device the combination of a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extendin track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, pneumatic means for cyclically reciprocating'said slide and means for causing upward movement of said slide to be substantially slower than its downward movement.

2,. In a fastener handlingdevice the combination of a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated'with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, pneumatic means for cyclically reciprocating said slide and hydraulic means for restricting the rate of said reciprocating means in a direction causing upward movement of said slide whereby said lift slide delivers fasteners to said track in a gentle manner.

3. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, pneumatic means for cyclically reciprocating said slide in response to operation of said gun, means for causing upward movement of said lift slide to be substantially slower than its downward movement and means associated with said track for automatically delivering one fastener at a time to said gun.

4. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, pneumatic means for cyclically reciprocating said slide in response to operation of said gun, hydraulic means for restricting the rate of said reciprocating means in a direction causing upward movement of said lift slide whereby said lift slide delivers fasteners to said track in a gentle manner and means associated with said track for automatically delivering one fastener at a time to said gun.

i 5. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, a pneumatically operated piston for cyclically reciprocating said slide, a control valve operated in response to operation of said gun for controlling flow of air to said piston in such manner that the lift slide is reciprocated each time the gun is operated, a closed hydraulic circuit effective on said piston to restrict its movement in a direction causing upward movement of said lift slide whereby the lift slide is raised slowly to deliver the fasteners to said track'in a gentle manner, and means associated with said track for automatically delivering one fastener at a time to said gun.

. 6. In an automatic fastener inserting device the combination of afpowerfoperated insertinggun, means for holding a supply of fasteners, a delivery. tube adjacent said supply which extends tosaid gun, means for delivering a single fastener to said delivery tube, valve means operative in response to each operation of said gun for actuating said delivering means, and a time delay valve operative in response to operation'of said valve means for providing a short blast of air to carry the fastener along said delivery tubeto said gun after it has been delivered by said delivering means; 1 a

7. In an automatic fastener inserting device the combination of a power operated inserting gun, means for holding a supply of fasteners, a delivery tube adjacent the supply which extends tosaid gun, means for delivering a single fastener to said delivery tube in response to each operation of said gun, a line connecting said delivery tube to a source of pressurized air, a time delay valve interposed in said line which normally prevents flow of air to said delivery tube, a. control valve having a first position allowing passage of air along said line tosaid time delay valve and a second position in which flow of air to said line is prevented and in which said time delay valve is opened, means responsivev to the operation of said gun for moving said control valve between its first and second positions each time the gun is operated, and means within said time delay'valve for maintaining it open for a short period. after-said control valve moves from its second to its first positionthereby providing a short blast of air to carrya fastener in said delivery tube to the inserting 8. In an automaticfastener inserting device the combination of a pneumatically operated inserting gun, means for holding a supply of fasteners, a delivery tube adjacent the supply which extends to said gun, means for delivering a single fastener to said delivery tube in response to each operation of said gun, a line connecting said delivery tube to a source of pressurized air, a time delay valve interposed in said line which normally prevents flow of air to said delivery tube, a control valve having a first position allowing passage of air along said line to said time delay valve and a second position in which flow of air to said line is prevented and in which said time delay valve is opened, spring means for normally maintaining said control valve in one of its positions, a signal line connecting said controlvalve and said inserting gun, means within said gun for pressurizing the signal line during the operation of said gun whereby the control valve is moved to an alternate position each time the gun is operated, and means Within said time delay valve for maintaining it open for a short period after said control valve moves from its second to its first position thereby providing a short blast of air to carry a fastener in said delivery tube to the inserting gun.

9. In an automatic fastener inserting device the combination of a pneumatically operated inserting gun, means for holding a supply of fasteners, a delivery tube adjacent the supply which extends to said gun, means for delivering a single fastener'to said delivery tube in response to each operation of said gun, a line connecting said delivery tube to a'source of pressurized air, a first and a second time delay valve interposed in said line, said first valve being normally open and said second valve being normally closed, said first valve having a shorter delay period than'said second valve, and means responsive to the operation of said gun for actuating said valves.

10. The device defined in claim -9 in which the means for actuating the time delay valves comprises a signal line interconnecting each of said valves and the inserting gun and which is pressurized during the operation of the gun.

11. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper fol-holding a supply of fasteners, 21 downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, a pneumatically operated piston for re ciprocating said lift'slide, a delivery tube adjacent said track which extends to said inserting gun, a separating member arranged to be moved by said piston between a fastener receiving position at the lower end of said raceway and a fastener delivering position in register with said delivery tube, a control valve connected to a source of pressurized air, a first line extending from said control valve to one end of said piston, a second line extending from said control valve to the other end of said piston, a third line extending from said control valve to said delivery tube, a normally closed time delay valve interposed in said third line, a fourth line communicating with the control valve through which air may pass to actuate said time delay valve, said control valve having a first position in which pressurized air may pass through said second and third lines and a second position in which pressurized air may pass through said first and fourth lines, a signal line extending between said control valve and said inserting gun which is adapted to admit pressurized air for moving said control valve from its first to its second position, means for normally maintaining said control valve in its first position and means within said inserting gun for pressurizing said signal line during the operation of the gun.

12. The device defined in claim 1,1 in which a closed hydraulic circuit is provided, said circuit being effective on said piston to restrict its movement in a direction causing upward movement of said lift slide whereby the lift slide is raised slowly to deliver fasteners to said track in a gentle manner.

13. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, a lift slide for delivering fasteners to said track, a pneumatically operated piston for reciprocating said lift slide, a delivery tube adjacent said track which extends to said inserting gun, a separating member arranged to be moved by said piston between a fastener receiving position at the lower end of said track and a fastener delivering position in register with said delivery tube, spring means for normally maintaining said piston in a first position wherein the lift slide is in its downward position and the separating member is in a fastener delivering position, a signal line extending from said gun to a point adjacent said piston, means within said inserting gun for pressurizing said signal line during the operation of the gun, a first line which places one end of said piston in communication with said signal line wher whereby when said signal line is pressurized the piston is moved from a first to a second position, a second line connecting said delivery tube to a source of pressurized air, a first time delay valve which is normally open and which is interposed in said second line, a second time delay valve which is normally closed and which is interposed in said second line, said second valve being nearest to the delivery tube, a line connecting both time delay valves to said signal line whereby when said signal line is pressurized said first valve is closed and said second valve is opened, the time delay of said first valve being substantially shorter than the time delay of said second valve thereby providing a short blast of air for delivering a separated fastener along the delivery tube to the inserting gun each time the gun is operated.

14. The device defined in claim 13 in which a closed hydraulic circuit is provided, said circuit being effective on said piston to restrict its movement in a direction causing upward movement of said lift slide whereby the lift slide is raised slowly to deliver fasteners to said track in a gentle manner.

15. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, means for orienting fasteners in said track, a delivery tube adjacent said track which extends to said inserting gun, a separating member, means for moving said separating member between a fastener receiving position at the bottom of said track and a fastener delivering position in register with said delivery v 14 tube in response to operation of said gun, a slot in 'said separating member into which the bottommost fastener may fall when the separating member is in a fastener receiving position, and magnetic means for insuring that each bottommost fastener completely enters said slot.

16. The inserting device defined in claim 15 in which retaining means are provided for gripping the next to the bottommost fastener in said track when the separating member is in a fastener receiving position.

17. In a fastener handling device the combination of an inserting gun, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly extending track associated with said hopper, means for orienting fasteners in said track, a delivery tube adjacent said track, a separating member, means for moving said separating member between a fastener receiving position at the bottom of said track and a fastener delivering position in register with said delivery tube, a slot in said separating member into which the bottommost fastener may fall when the separating member is in a fastener receiving position, magnetic means for insuring that each bottommost fastener completely enters said slot.

18. A fastener handling device as defined in claim 17 in which retaining means are provided for gripping the next to the bottommost fastener in said track when the separating member is in a fastener receiving position.

19. A fastener handling and inserting device having, in combination, a fastener inserting driver, a hopper for holding a supply of fasteners, a downwardly inclined track extending from said hopper, means for orienting fasteners in said track, a delivery tube in proximity to the lower end of said track for receiving a fastener, said delivering tube communicating with the driver, a fastener separating member adjacent the lower end of said track for separating the endmost fastener therefrom and for moving said fastener into register with said delivery tube, said separating member including a longitudinal slot into which the endmost fastener may fall when separated, and magnetic means for insuring that each fastener when separated completely enters said slot and is maintained by magnetic force so that the longitudinal axis of the fastener extends substantially in the direction of the axis of the slot.

20. The fastener handling and inserting device defined in claim 19 wherein the material of the separator member bounding said slot is nonmagnetic, and said magnetic means is disposed adjacent the bottom of the track but spaced therefrom by said nonmagnetic material.

21. A fastener feeding and driving mechanism having a driving tool, a fastener container, a passage for carrying fasteners from the fastener container to the driving tool, said passage comprising a track and a delivery tube, means for introducing fasteners from the fastener container into the track portion of said passage, means associated with said track for feeding the fasteners one at a time through the delivery tube to the tool, and means for operating the fastener introducing means and the fastener feeding means in predetermined timed relationship characterized by the provision of a pressurized fluid circuit having a connection to the driving tool for actuating said tool, a connection to the operating means for actuating said operating means, a connection to the delivery tube for chasing the fasteners through the delivery tube to the tool, a master control valve for controlling fluid pressure in the connection to the operating means and a supply control valve in the connection to the delivery tube actuated in predetermined timed relationship with the operating means.

22. A fastener feeding and driving mechanism having a driving tool, a fastener container, means for actuating the driving tool, a passage for carrying fasteners from the fastener container to the driving tool, said passage comprising a track and a delivery tube, means for introducing fasteners from the fastener container into the track portion of the passage, means associated with the track for feeding the fasteners one at a time through the delivery tube to the tool, and means for operating the fastener introducing means and the fastener feeding means in predetermined timed relationship characterized by the provision of a pressurized fluid circuit having a connection to the operating means for actuating said operating means, 5 a connection to the delivery tube for chasing fasteners through the delivery tube to the tool, a master control valve for controlling fluid pressure in the connection to the operating means and a supply control valve in the connection to the delivery tube actuated in predetermined 10 timed relationship with the operating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scheve May 21, 1907 Taylor Mar. 21, 1911 Brackett Oct. 31, 1916 Ruff Feb. 26, 1929 De Mooy Nov. 13, 1934 Roy Aug. '15, 1939 Papalia Feb. 21, 1950 

